17 replies to this topic

[yel327]

All. Friend contacted me, his L34 has been overheating. It is a fairly original car, he bought it back late in the 70’s or early 80’s from a GMH dealer in Warrnambool Vic. Reportedly kept in the dealership as a spare race car and sold once Torana racing done, but it was never raced. Has an alloy cage in it and had 10” and 8” Hotwires on it but otherwise pretty original when he got it, but being the 80’s he fitted a top loader and 9”, keeping the original bits.

Back to the overheating, he took the radiator out to get it cleaned or re-cored but turns out it is a HQ radiator, supposedly. Must have been changed by the dealer. So what exactly does he need to make it right? I have a close finned 2 core here I got out of a UC back in maybe 1986 that had a SBC and Muncie in it. It has Chev spouts but would it have the right bands?

[Lima31]

SBC has ports in different spots, so not a straight swap. I think ability to keep cool is more important than originality but that is just my opinion.

[Ice]

3 Core radiator would be the go that will keep it cool 

[yel327]

I know the SBC spouts are different, just interested in the bands. Doesn’t need a Holden 3 core Gene, it’s a stock L34, existing 2 core has kept it cool for 45 years, is just a bit blocked up and fins are getting old. He’d rather get it right whilst it’s out and spend $ on the right radiator.

[Ice]

Don’t fancy you’re chances on the correct one for an L34 

Are they different to a normal Torana radiator ? 

[unclefestal34s]

skinny 3 core fine row does the job with no fuss and thats what was fitted,..a lot of people fit the big 3 core ones but then you have modify the shroud..

[yel327]

The one I have here is a skinny one that is a straight bolt in a UC. Has had the tanks modified for a SBC, but tanks are no problem, it is the core and bands that he needs. I’ll take a photo of what I have.
Gene, I think the L34 one is the same as any other V8 LH, just has the aircon or HD core. Just trying to find out exactly what he needs as I’m not sure.

[arrimar]

Hi Byron, I'm not sure if the UC had provision for a V8 radiator like an LH so the mounting holes may be random.

A quick ID is the Torana mounting flange is flat but a HQ one has a step where the bolt holes are and another flange on engine side for the fibreglass fan shroud (sometimes removed for a Torana install).
The straps from any original V8 Torana radiator will suffice.
Here's a picture from another thread when Brad was searching for the same.

The HQ straps put the tank closer to the engine and leave a gap between tank and radiator support panel. Torana straps place the tank 7mm in front of the mounting flange so there's minimal gap.

I showed my car as a reference yesterday and mentioned he'd find you here.

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•  radbands.jpg   162.55K   3 downloads

[yel327]

Thanks mate. I’ll check what I have tomorrow. There was one in the SLR5000 I pulled apart but I think I scrapped that with a heap of other radiators a while back, but I don’t know if it was a Torana one or not. The core was shagged.

[hanra]

Yeah thats interesting. I prob should have considered getting a HD core built when I had mine constructed. Does it still use the same tanks and mounting strap? Just has 3 cores? 

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•  Rad 1.JPG   28.49K   1 downloads
•  Rad 2.JPG   86.51K   2 downloads

[yel327]

This is the one that was in the UC. I now realise what it is. It is a HK V8 or HK first type 327 or HT 307. Obviously an auto radiator though. So it looks like V8 Torana may simply be HK-HT straps with the shroud bits spotted on. So it may be possible to make one up with HQ tanks and HK/HT straps with the shroud mounts removed.

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[hanra]

Standard factory heavy duty radiator for L34 and A9X is two rows of 73 tubes. (146 in total) Thanks to Dave Mac.

http://www.gmh-toran...ginal-radiator/

Edited by hanra, 07 January 2021 - 09:11 AM.

[arrimar]

Yes HK straps require far less modifications than HQ style would to achieve the correct positioning.

[yel327]

Will have to try and find a manual HT 253 or 308 radiator for him. Will just just need the spot welds on the shroud mounts ground off and his HQ top tank put onto it, with a new core or course. Or an auto one and use both HQ tanks.

[yel327]

http://www.gmh-toran...ginal-radiator/

The one in my pictures is 2 rows of 73. It will be from a HK Brougham with A/C. Will have to keep that core for my GTS327.

[Shiney005]

2 rows of 73 is same as the heavy duty radiator found in L34 and A9X.

[yel327]

I’m glad I have kept some original Brougham A/C radiators so it gives me one for my 327 and another spare.

[arrimar]

A 2 tube V8 Torana core is 637mm wide so 73 tubes would be about 8.7mm centres.

These guys on the Gold Coast have a multitude of cores available including a 2 core 8.4mm tube centre version which would do the job.

https://redbackradia...au/core_matrix/